Clothes wringer



March 22, 1938. A, FRAN-rz ET AL 2,111,586

CLOTHES WRINGER E Jin/1w eI 0,955

,ed/ATTORNE March 22; 1938. w. A. FRANTz ET AL 2,111,586

CLOTHES WRING ER March 22, 1938.

W. A. FRANTZ ET AL CLOTHES WRINGER Filed Aug. 8, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS. WALTER H F'RnN-rz- BY Jal-ml INSU/)a5 @e f2,

Wma., ATTO Y Patented Mar. 22, '1938 UNITED STATES CLOTHES WBINGER Walter A. Frantz, Cleveland Heights, and John 1 .I. McCabe, Cleveland, Ohio, assignors to The Apex Electrical Manufacturing Company. Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation ot. Ohio rrApplicationenligne s, 193s, seriali No. 684,204

1i claims.

the pressure between the wringer rolls which means also operate to disconnect the driving connection of such rolls with a source of power.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts, hereinafter illustrated and described in some of its embodiments in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appendedv claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional side elevational view of a clothes Wringer taken through the axis of the Wringer rolls and the wringer driving shaft illustrating one mode of practicing the invention.

Figure 2 is a, sectional view taken on line 2 2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of certain details of the wringer clutch mechanism used in connection with the wringer shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 isa sectional view taken on line d-V-il, Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 5 5, Figure l.

Figure `6 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on line 6 8, Figure 1. i

Figure '7 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on line. 'l--'l, Figure l.

Figure 8 is ,an enlarged detail sectional View taken on line 8-8, Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a plan view of another form of wringer gearing illustrating another mode of utilizing some of the features of this invention.

Figure 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line IIL-ill, Figure 9. Y

Figure 11 is a. sectional view taken on line li-i|, Figure 9.

Figure 12 is a side elevational view of yet another form oi. wringer driving mechanism which includes the lgeneral features of construction of the gearing shown in Figures 9 to 11, differing principally therefrom in that the wringer drive (ci. ca -s2) control and swing-lock are operatively associated With each other.

Figure 13 is a, sectional view taken on line iii-I3, Figure 12; and

Figure 14 is a sectional view 'taken on line lli-ill, Figure 12.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 8 inclusive, the numeral l indicates a vertical wringer supporting column which may as is customary, terminate at a level at or above the top of the tub (not shown) oi' the washing machine with which the wringer is associated. The column i is provided with a anged collar A2 having circumferentially spaced notches 9 for the reception of the lower end of the lever 4 of a locking device, by means of which the wringer may be held in the various adjusted positions about the ams of its supporting column l.

In the present case the wringer is used in connection with a washing machine of the type having an insulating shield 5 radially spaced from the washer tub. A top plate t is tted over the top of the shield and the washing machine tub and this shield may extend inwardly beyond the edge of the tub to provide both a working aperture above the tub and a seat for the custoinary tub cover. This form of casing construction is well understood and is not illustrated in detail in this application. The top plate is formed with an opening between the tub side wall and the shield defined by the downwardly turned annular ange 'l in which the collar of the wringer supporting column is fitted.

The wringer gearing is housed Within a casing t and it comprises a gear case it, the lower part of which is provided with an annular flange il whichl rests on the shoulder 2 of the wringer supporting column. The casing t is secured to the ange il by any suitable means such as screws 8a, one of' which is shown in Figure l. A boss i2 is provided on the side oi the gear case at a point above the flange il for a pin i9 by means of which the swing-lock lever t is pivotally secured to the wringer gear case.

The swing-lock'lever has an arm id extending above the pivotal bearing provided by the pin i3. The arm It is urged away from'the gear case and the swing-lock .is urged to locking position bymeans of a coil spring I t. The arm it is provided with an upwardly extending annular part which surrounds the upper part of the gear case i9 and at its upper extremity it is provided with a cam shaped part it the purpose of which will be described in detail presently.

The wringer swing lock is released to permit movement; of the wringer about the axis of its supporting column by manually pressing the upper part of a movable section I1 of the casing or housing 8. The lower end of this section of the housing is pivoted at I8 to the body of the housing 8 and the upper end is in contact with the arm I4 so that by pressing the section I1 inwardly the arm 4 is moved out of registry with one of the notches 3 and lthe wringer can then be swung to th'e desired position whereupon the section I1 is released and the spring I5 forces the lower end of the lever 4 into one of the notchesv 3 of the collar of the wringer supporting column.

The wringer gear case III is formed at its upper end with a horizontal hollow cylinder having reduced circular end parts and which is formed by the upper and lower halves 20 and 2|. the latter of which is integral with the rest of the gear case. The reduced ends provide bearings for the enlarged parts 22 and 23 of the horizontal wringer driving shaft 24. The parts 22 and 23 are pinned or otherwise flxedly secured to the shaft 24. A pair of beveled gears 25 and 26 are rotatably journaled on the shaft 24. A spacer ring 21 is loosely interposed between thegears to keep them properly spaced from each other. 'I'he beveled gears 25 and 26 mesh at all times with a beveled pinion 28 which is fixedly secured on to the upper end of a vertical wringer driving shaft 29. v

'Ihe vvertical driving shaft 29 is journaled at its upper end in a sleeve 30 rigidly carried by the gear case I0. The sleeve has a bearing surface for contact with the shaft at its upper end. The lower part of the sleeve extends a considerable distance beyond the lowermost part of the wringer gear case IIJ and it has a plurality of stiifening ribs and rings 3| formed externally thereof for contact engagement with the gear case I0 and with the wringer supporting column I and it is by means of this sleeve that the wringer is removably and rotatably carried in the end of the wringer supporting column I.

During the operation of the vertical drive shaft 29, the beveled gears 25 and 26 are continuously rotated in opposite directions by the beveled pinion 28. Clutches are provided for selectively connecting one or the other of the beveled gears 25 or 26 in driving relation to the horizontal wringer drive shaft 24. 'Ihese clutches comprise a pair of coil springs 32 and 33 which may be formed from a length of spring steel wire of square or rectangular cross section. One end 34 of the spring 32 engages an outer cylindrical clutch control member 35 and the opposite end 36 of this spring engages a cylindrical clutch member 31 which is rotatably fitted in the member 35.

Tle clutch member 35 is provided with an annular toothed flange 38 and the member 36 is also provided with an annular toothed flange 40 located alongside of the flange 38. The clutch spring 33 is conected in a similar Amanner to a pair of cylindrical clutch control members 42 and 43 which are substantial duplicates of the members 35 and 31 respectively.

A segment 44 pivoted on a pin 45 and having an operating bar 46 fixed to its upper edge is provided for controlling the operation of the clutches. A ball and spring detent 41 cooperates withthree notches 48 provided in the housing 8 to maintain the clutch control segment 44 in any one of its three operating positions.

When the segment 44 is in the position shown in Figure l its lowermost notched end parts 50 and 52 are in engagement vwith the toothed flanges of the clutch members 35 and 31 and 42 and 43, thereby holding these members and their associated springs in a fixed immovable position. The teeth of the flanged portions of the aforesaid clutch members are'normally held by the clutch springs with their teeth out of alignment by a distance approximatelyequal to one-half a tooth so that when the segment engages the toothed portions of theclutch members these clutch members are rotated in opposite directions to bring the teeth of the flanged portions thereof into substantial alignment.

'Ihis action loosens or unwinds the springs 32 and 33 thereby releasing the beveled gears 25 and 2B and enlarged horizontal driving shaft parts 22 and 23 from frictional driving engagement with the springs 32 and 33. When the left hand side of the control member 46 is depressed the notched part 52 of the segment 44 moves completely out of registry with the notched parts of the clutch members 42 and 43. This permits the tensioned clutch spring 33 to wind up on the beveled gear 26 and the shaft part 23 whereupon these parts are frictionally connected to each other and the lower roll is driven by the pinion 28 and the beveled gear 26.

Similarly when the right end side of the control member 46 is depressed the notched part 50 of the segment moves out of registry with the toothed portions 38 and 40 of the associated clutch members 35 and 31 whereupon the spring 32 grips the beveled gear 25 and the enlarged shaft part 22 connecting these two parts in driving engagement with each other. In either case the relative angular position of the cylindrical clutch members is not disturbed during the actuation of the corresponding, oppositely located clutch members. v

The driving engagement last referred to drives the horizontal shaft 24 in a reverse direction. 'I'he aforesaid clutching device provides an arrangement Which operates instantly with the slightest pressure on the part of the operator thereby providing a sensitive finger operated wringer control. To place the control in neutral position all that is necessary is merely to rest the palm of the hand upon the control lever 45 which instantly brings all of the clutch parts to their disengaged position.

The wringer gearing control just described for convenience may be characterized as a fingertip control. 'I'his expression is intended to include wringer controls which may be operated by the exertion of as little pressure as that which the ordinary users of a wringer are capable of exerting with one or more of their fingers. The ease with which this control may be manipulated results principally by reason of the utilization of part of the energy of the power driving means of the wringer in effecting the power driving connection for rotating the wringer rolls in one direction or the other. The stopping of the wringer rolls is accomplished simply by moving a. detent in the path of the drive connecting device. The power drive connection just referred to is commonly called the servo-type which expression is also often used in connection with brakes and other devices in which the operator initiates a step or series of steps in the operation of a device which step or steps are completed by some agency other than the operator.

The wringer rolls 86 and 81 are carried in a supporting frame 53 having upper and lower sets annoso threaded in a detachable channeled cross bar 63 of the wringer frame to eiect the adjustment of 'the flat roll tensioning spring B0. 'I'he cross bar 63 is normally locked to the wrlnger frame by means of a pair of latch members 64 and B5 which are secured for movement in the bar by the pins 66 and B1. The latch members are provided with extensions 68 and 10 which engage with the cut-cut portions 12 and 1l of the stiles oi the wringer frame 53, and thus serve to hold the cross bar in locked position.

'I'he inner ends of the latch members 64 and 05 are formed with tongues 14 and 15 which are normally held in latch locking position by means of a pivotally movable plate member 1B having contacting end parts 11 and 18 which engage the parts 14 and 15 respectively of the latch members. The plate member 16 is connected to a pair of cross members and'al which at their outer ends normally carry a pair of safety release bars in the position shown in Figure 5. A slight pressure exerted towards the wringer on either one of the safety bars 02 or 03 quickly releases the latches 14 whereupon the tension between the wringer rolls 06 and 81 is instantly released. Members 19 riveted to the bar 60 have apertures for receiving the ends 11 of the plate 10 to limit the movement of the same;

The upper portion of the member 16 is pivoted at 4|18 and 90 to the cross bar 63. One end of the upper part of the member16 is engaged by ears 9| formed on a member 92 which is rigidly attached to the inner end of a rod 93. The other end of the rod is journaled in the bar t3 and has fixed to it at this point a forked crank 00 which engages the upper end of a lever 95, having a pivotal support'96 at a point intermediate its ends. The lower end of the lever 95 has a cam-shaped aperture 91 within which is received an arm 98 extending from and rigid with the segmental control member 4t.

When the aforesaid safety release is operated,

the actuation of the parts 16, 93 and 95 and the interaction between the cam 91 and the arm 00 serve to shift the wrlnger clutch control to neutral' position by either raising or lowering the arm to its intermediate position depending upon the direction of the rotation of the wringer rolls. The safety control just described not only serves to release the tension between the wringer rolls 06 and 81 but it also operates to stop any further movement of the wrlnger rolls.

As an added safety feature the swing-lock and wringer clutch control cooperate with each other to prevent the operation of the wringer rolls except at such times as when the control device is in neutral position and the wringer rolls are not moving. This highly desirable result is accomplished by means of the cooperation between the cam member i6 of the swing-lock lever and a notch |00 of the control segment 44.

When the control segment 44 is in neutral position the 'notch |00 is located so as to readily and freely receive the cam part i6 of the swing-lock lever and it is therefore possible with the parts in such position to shift the arm 4 of the swing lock out of registry with the notches 3. When the control segment 44 is shifted to either of its operating positions the notch |00 is moved to an upper or a lower position where it cannot accommodate the cam member I6 and under such conditions it will be impossible to shift the arm 4 out of engagementl with any of the notches 3 with the control segment in driving positionv by reason of the fact that the adjacent edge of the segment 44 will not permit sulcientmovement of the arm 4' to eifectthe release of the swing-lock without iirst causing the control segment to move to its neutral position. When the cam I0 is located in the aperture |00 operation of the wringer control segment 44 is prevented and lt is impossible to place the wringer in operation with the swing-lock lever in such position. Due to the shape` of the cam I6 and the contour of the sides of the notch |00,.movement of the segment 44 tends to shift the swing-lock lever to its locking position andl movement of the lever from such position tends to restore the segment to its neutral position if it is not already in such position.

'I'he bottom part of the wringer is provided with a pan |0| which catches p art of the water which is squeezed from the clothes during the operation of the wringer. 'I'his pan is depressed at its center where it has an aperture |02'whi'ch communicates with a drain member |03 by means of which such water is returned to the tub or container on the feeding 'side of the wringeror on the side of the wringer at which clothes are being fed.

The form of wringer gearing illustrated in Figures 9, 10, and 11 corresponds exactly to the form of wringer gearing mechanism illustrated in the referred to copending application for U. S. letters Patent of which the present case forms a continuation in part. This form of wringer mechanism is an improvement of the mechanism disclosed in Patent Number 1,830,406, issued to J. L. Perkins et al. November 3, 1931, and diers therefrom in several important details as will be pointed out presently.

In this latter form of construction, the wringer is driven by a vertical drive shaft |04 which is journaled in a bearing member |05, xedly secured in the wringer gear case housing |06 by means of a bolt |01. This bolt extends in both directions beyond its head or wrench engaging portion. The unthreaded extension |08 of the bolt is provided for carrying a spring ||0 by means of which the swing-lock lever is held in locked position. This lever is pivoted at ||2 to the wringer gear case |06 and it has a part H0 extending below its pivot which is provided for locking engagement with any one of the notches ||0 of an annular collar ||5 carried by a wringer column ||6.

The bearing member |05 extends for some distance beyond the housing` |06 and it is of such size as to be removably tted into the wringer supporting column ||0 to hold the wringer for movement about the column axis. The flanged end ||1 of the wringer housing rests upon the collar ||5 which is carried at the top of the wrlnger supporting column.

The wringer gear housing |00 is formed from a single die casting and the mechanism inclosed therein is arranged and constructed so that the operating elements of the wringer may be assembled and installed in this case by way of the necessary shaft openings, through which the either a cover plate or a sectional gear case as are customary forms of construction for this element of a washing machine.

The inside diameter of the major portionof the bearing member |05 is of slightly larger diameter than the shaft |04. The upper end portion of the bore of the bearing member |05 is of such size as to provide a suitable bearing ||8 for the upper end of the shaft |04. The purpose of this bearing arrangement is to prevent binding of the shaft |04 in its bearing. The shaft |04 is threaded at |20 to receive the threaded beveled pinion |2|. The beveled pinion is positioned between a pair of similarly formed beveled gears 22 and |23 respectively.

The beveled gears |22 and |23 are secured 'to each other by means of a sleeve |24 to which the gears are welded. The gears, in turn, are mounted upon a hollow shaft |25 and are secured thereto by means of a pin |26. A bearing |21, is provided in one end of the gear case for the rotatable reception of the hollow shaft 25. The other end of the shaft |25 is journaled in the rotatable bearing block |28.

The bearing block |28 is rotatably supported or journaled in the casing |06 and is axially movable to various adjusted positions by means of a handle |30, which is received in the threaded hole |3| of the bearing block. The handle |30 v is utilized to secure a cover plate |32 over the cam slot |34. The portion of the cover plate receiving the handle |30 is tted with a rotatable annular sleeve or bushing |35, which engages the sides of the cam slot |36 formed in the top part of the casing |06 and acts as a roll-er bearing to prevent undue Wear on either the cam slot or the part provided to engage the slot.

The lower portion of the bearing member |26 is provided with a blind hole for receiving in the order named, a spring |31 and a ball 38. The lower portion of the interior face of that part of the housing |06 which is adjacent to the wringer, is provided with three slotsv |40, |4| and |42. These slots receive at different times, the spring pressed ball |38 and serve to maintain the operating lever |30 and the beveled gears |22 and' |23 in neutral, forward or reverse driving positions respectively.

As viewed in Figure l1, when the handle |30 is pushed away from the operator, the gear |23 is brought into mesh with the pinion |2| and the wringer is driven in a direction to carry clothes away from the operator who is presumably in front of the wringer. position, the ball |38 is in the slot |40 and serves to maintain the gears in mesh. When the handle is in a vertical position the gears are in neutral position and the ballengages with the slot |4|. The wringer is driven in a reverse direction by moving the handle toward the operator as viewed in Figure 11, whereupon the gear |22 is brought into mesh with the pinion 2| and the ball |38 engages with the slot |42 to hold the gears in mesh. v

'I'he movement of the beveled gears is transmitted to the Wringer rolls by means of a coupling |43, which is slotted at |44 for receiving the pin |45 and its rotatable bearing sleeve |46. The

pin |45 is fixedly secured in the hollow shaft |25 and is rotatable therewith. The shaft |41 of the lower wringer roll |48 is attened at its end for reception in a similarly formed opening provided by the coupling member |43. The coupling member is secured to the roll shaft by means of a cotter pin |49.

With the parts in this` An interiorly threaded cup |50 is welded or 4otherwise secured to the side member or stile 5| of the wringerframe. The cup |50 is received on the exteriorly threaded end of the wringer gear case |06. A set screw |52 is provided to lock the cup |50 in its proper position. This arrangement illustrates a simple and inexpensive Way of detachablysecuring the wringer to the wringer gear case. f

The angle between the axes of the vertical and horizontal portions of the gear caseV |06 is slightly in excess of so that the sagging due to the weight of the wringer and the lnecessary clearances betwen the bearing member |04 and the tube 6 and case |06 are compensated for, and when assembled, the wringer assumes a substantially horizontal position.

In the form of the device illustrated in Figures 12, 13, and 14, additional means are provided for insuring that the wringer control 1s always in neutralv position when the wringer is swung about its vertical axis. This mechanism comprises a rod |53 which is pivotally connected at |54 to the swing-lock lever The other end lof-this rod is provided with a curved end. part |55 which is arranged to contact at times with j one arm of a lever |56, pivoted at |51 in the gear case |58. The curved end part of the rod is also arranged to engage with the roller |60 of the control vlever |6l. The roller |60 moves in a cam slot |62 of similar-design to the slot |34.

With the lever |6| in either one of its wringer roll driving positions when the end ||3 of the swing lock lever is moved out of disengagement with one of its notches ||4 the lever |6| is automatically shifted to the full line or neutral position as shown in Figure 14. This result is accomplished by the curved end part |55 of the rod |53 engaging directly with the control lever roller |60 to shift it to its neutral position or by the actuation of the rod of the lever |56 which serves to return the control lever to neutral when it is in its other position of operation. By reason of this arrangement it is impossible to swing the wringer without flrst disconnecting the Wringer rollers from driving engagement with the vertical driving shaft of the wringer.

'Ihe control members 46 and |6| function substantially the same in both forms of the invention in-so-far as their interaction with the swinglock is concerned. When the swing-lock lever is in its disengaged position the stated control members are held in their neutral position. In

each case the unlocking movement of the swinglock lever will return the corresponding gear not already in such position and movement of the gear control member from neutral position will tend to move the corresponding swing-lock member into locking position if it is not already in such position. l

Furthermore, it is to be understood that the particular forms of apparatus shown and described, and the particular procedure set forth, are presented for' purposes of explanation and that various modiications of said apparatus and procedure can be made without departing from our invention as described in the appended claims. Y

Having thus described our invention what we claim isi Y 1. In a wringer mechanism, a wringer gear case 'having horizontal and vertical portions, a wringer supported on the horizontal portion of said gear the vertical portion of said gear case and projecting therefrom, a hollow wringer column for receiving the projecting end of said bearing member, a control lever pivot-ed to said gear case, a boss formed on said lever, a bolt having an elongated head for holding said bearing in place, and a compression spring carried by and encircling said boss and bolt head.

2. In a wringer mechanism, a wringer gear case having horizontal and vertical portions, a wringer supported on the horizontal portionof said gear case, a removable bearing member received in the'vertical portion of said gear case and projecting therefrom, a hollow wringer column for receiving the 'projecting end of said bearing member, a control lever pivoted to said gear case, a bolt having an elongated head for holding said bearing in place, and a compression spring carried by said bolt and engaging said lever.

3. In a wringer mechanism, a wringer gear case having horizontal and vertical portions, a wringer supported on the horizontal portion of said gear case, a support member secured inthe vertical portion of said gear case and projecting therefrom, a hollow wringer column for internally and rotatably receiving the projecting end of said support member and providing a bearing therefor, and means for holding said support member in place in said gear c ase.

4. In a laundry machine, a gear case having openings for the reception of a vertical driving shaft and a horizontal driven shaft; a wringer having a roll adapted to be operatively connected to said driven shaft, means including said gear case for detachably supporting the wringer on the machine for movement about a vertical axis, and reversing gearing interposed between said shafts and housed in said case, said shafts being fitted in said gear case with their axes forming an angle of slightly more than ninety degrees.

5. A wringer drive for washing machines comprising, a one-piece gear case having openings for the reception of a control handle, a driving shaft and a driven shaft; said case being otherwise closed and free from openings, reversing gearing housed in said case and insertable through the stated shaft openings, the opening for said handle being in the form of an elongated slot, and a cover for said slot held in place by said control handle.

6. In a control device for swinging wringers, the combination with a wringer-drive gearing and a swing-lock, of means including interacting, individ'ual, selectively operable, manual control members for said gearing and swing-lock, the actuation of the control member of said swinglock operating to shift said gear control member from its gear driving position.

'7. In a control device for swinging wringers, the combination with a wringer-drive gearing and a swing-lock, of individual, selectively operable, manual control members for said gearing and swing-lock, and means associated with said swinglock control member adapted upon its actuation to return said gearing control member to a predetermined position.

8. In a control device for swinging wringers, the combination with a wringer-drive gearing and a swing-lock, ofindividual, selectively operable, manual control members for said gearing and swing-lock, and interacting means between said swing-lock control member and said gearing control member for preventing the actuation of said gearing control member except when said ating-lock control member is in its locked posi- 9. In a wringer mechanism, a wringer gear'case having upper and lower portions, a wringer supported from the upper portion of said gear case, a support member secured in said gear case and projecting from the lower portion thereof, a shaft rotatably jornaled in. said support member and having a gear at its upper end. said support member, shaft and gear being insertable as a unit in said gear case, a hollow wringer column for internally and rotatably receiving the projecting end of said support member and providing a bearing therefor, and means for holding said support member in place in said gear case.

l0. In a wringer mechanism, a wringer gear case having upper and lower portions, a wringer supported from the upper portion of said gear case and projecting in a horizontal direction outwardly therefrom, a support member secured in said gear case and projecting from the lower portion thereof, a hollow wringer column for internally and rotatably receiving the projecting end of said support member and providing a bearing therefor, said support member forming an angle slightly in excess of ninety degrees with the wringer so as to compensate for the sag occasioned by the weight of the wringer when it is supported in its operative horizontal position, and means for holding said support member in place in said gear case.

11. In a wringer mechanism, a wringer gear case having upper and lower portions, a wringer supported from the upper portion ofl said gear case, a support member secured in said gear case and projecting from' the lower portion thereof, a hollow wringer column for internally and rotatably receiving the projecting end of said support member and providing a bearing therefor, a member rigid with said wringer column having circumferentially disposed notches, a swing lock lever pivotally carried by said gear case and having a part movable into the stated notches, and means for holding said support member in place in said gear case. Y

12. A wringer drive for washing machines comv prising, a gear case having openings for the reception of a control handle, a driving shaft and a driven shaft, reversing gearing housed in said case and insertable through the stated shaft openings, the opening for said handle being in the form of an elongated camslot, a cover for said slot held in place by said control handle, and anti-friction means interposed between said control handle and the cam slot of said gear case.

13. In a control device for swinging wringers, the combination with a wringer-drive gearing and a swing-lock, of individual, selectively operable manual control members for said gearing and swing-lock, and interconnecting means associated with said manual control members for moving said swing-lock control member into locking position upon the actuation of said gearing control member,

14. In a control device for swinging wringers, the combination with a wringer-drive gearing and a swing-lock, of individual, selectively operable manual control members for vsaid gearing and swing-lock, said gearing control member having neutral and operative driving positions, and means operated by the manual control member of said gearing for preventing the shifting of said swing-lock control member except when said gearing control member is-in its neutral position.

l5. In a washing machine, a wringer, a one- .passageways with non-reentrant sides whereby the gear case may be formed by die-casting the same with non-collapsible cores.

16. In a, washing machine, a wringer, a onepiece wringer supporting gear case iixed to the wringer and mounted on the machine for pivotal movement about -a vertical axis and having openings for the reception of a driving shaft and a driven shaft; the axis of the shaft openings of said case forming an angle slightlyin excess of ninety degrees for the purpose of compensating i'or the sag of the wringer when occiipying its operative positions, vertically disposed support Ameans for said gear case, the interior of said gear case'having cavities and passageways with non-reentrant sides whereby the gearcase may be formed by die-casting the same with non-collapsible cores and reversing gearing housed in said case and insertable through the stated shaft openings.

17. In a washing machine, a one-piece gear case having openings for the reception of a control device, a driving shaft and a driven shaft; the interior of said case having passageways and cavities with non-reentrant sides whereby lthe gear case may be formed by die-casting with noncollapsible cores, reversing gearing housed in said case and insertable through the stated shaft openings, means for mounting said gear case on vthe machine for movement about a vertical axis,

and a wringer secured to said gear case and operatively connected to said driven shaft.

WALTER A. FRANTZ. JOHN J. MCCABE. 

